The victim of what could be determined to be a hate crime in Branch County Monday evening was able to fend off the suspect, who was also a neighbor.

Union City Police were called to reports of shots fired during a fight between neighbors at an apartment complex in the 400 block of N. Broadway St. just before midnight. Witnesses reported that a 30-year-old male fire shots a sawed off shotgun after confronting a neighbor. The man reportedly used a racial slur during the altercation. The gun was reportedly aimed at the victim, but they were able to wrestle it away from the suspect.

Authorities located the suspect lying unconscious in his apartment under a mattress. Several firearms were located there. He was treated at Oaklawn Hospital fir undisclosed injuries and and is currently lodged at the Branch County Jail pending formal charges. The victim was not hurt during the incident.

The Union City Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Michigan State Police, Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi Tribal Police, the Calhoun County Sheriffs Department, and LifeCare Ambulance.